Eldritch Horror Theatre

”How do you feel?”

The familiar chime was accompanied by the exact same question.

”Not so good.”

His five senses restored, Fu Qian studied the bespectacled Demonic Doctor in front of him and chose a different answer this time.

”Oh? Are you experiencing some kind of distress?”

The dutiful doctor’s attention was undoubtedly caught.

”It’s too loud.”

Fu Qian looked deeply distressed.

”Listening to a horse neigh for a full five minutes left my head a mess.”

”...Just a horse neighing?”The answer clearly caught the Demonic Doctor off guard. He stared blankly for a moment before double-checking.

”Is a horse neighing not enough?”

Fu Qian frowned.

”What else was I supposed to hear?”

”Nothing... What time is it now?”

After giving Fu Qian an odd look, the Demonic Doctor asked the familiar question.

”Eighteen fifteen.”

Fu Qian glanced at the digital clock behind him and answered.

”Good. Now, draw this time on the paper as a clock face.”

The Demonic Doctor nodded, and a pen and paper were once again slapped down in front of Fu Qian.

This time, Fu Qian didn’t pull off any shocking maneuvers. Instead, he drew a perfectly normal set of clock hands.

...

Looking at the flawless work, the Demonic Doctor gave the model citizen in front of him an even more shocked look than before.

Taking it all in, Fu Qian thought to himself that he’d made the right bet.

Sure enough, in this test, hearing no noise and being completely unaffected was also abnormal.

It made sense. The effect of the Nether Steed should be quite powerful against anyone in the ordinary Transcendent Tier. The probability of complete immunity was extremely low; it was just a matter of varying resistance.

It was obvious from the records Cynthia had provided that different test subjects had varying degrees of reaction to the cognitive influence.

The reason he changed his strategy this time was because, as a professional and confident task runner, Fu Qian didn’t think there was anything wrong with his previous approach.

In his view, hinting that he was beyond saving to attract attention and wait for an opportunity to strike had already reached its limit. It was nearly impossible to achieve a more exaggerated result.

Drawing out the real Goya within the allotted time was likely a dead end.

So, he chose to do the exact opposite this time and play the model citizen.

For one thing, this approach had its own appeal.

But most importantly, he wanted to adopt a different stance to communicate with Dr. Cynthia and verify some of his theories.

More haste, less speed. Relying on luck was often a trap.

...

The facts proved that Fu Qian’s strategy worked.

After standing dazed for a moment, the Demonic Doctor, just like last time, had Fu Qian taken away and locked up.

”9527?”

At almost exactly the same time, a guard came knocking. After confirming his identity, he was led out.

Beautiful!

Brushing past brother 1439 in the hallway once more, Fu Qian felt pleased with the researchers’ professional acumen.

Flashy maneuvers needed an appreciative audience.

If Cynthia actually treated him like a healthy person and just locked him up, then he might have had to choose Asura Mode.

”Please sit.”

Escorted by two guards, Fu Qian entered Dr. Cynthia’s office once again.

At this moment, the professional narrowed her eyes, her intact head wearing a meaningful expression.

In her hand was the drawing Fu Qian had just completed.

”Mr. 9527, according to the submitted records, you only heard the sound of a horse neighing during the entire test?”

She skipped the pleasantries, getting straight to the point.

”Right.”

Fu Qian nodded.

”Were there no other sounds? Anything that bothered you?”

”What sounds? Is five minutes of a horse neighing not bothersome enough?”

Fu Qian looked genuinely surprised.

”I’d rather take a discount on my atonement than go through that again.”

...

”I’m sorry, but that isn’t up to you. Given the current circumstances, we need you to cooperate with another test.”

Unmoved by his words, Cynthia stared at him for a moment before shaking her head.

”But don’t worry, you won’t be returning to the testing area. We’ll do it right here.”

As she spoke, Cynthia picked up an object covered by a black cloth from the floor.

The Guide of the Soul? So he really didn’t have to listen to the horse neigh again.

Fu Qian instantly recognized the mirror he had just seen.

If he remembered correctly, she had been forced to submit an application to use it last time. Yet here she was, having already checked it out.

This meant one thing: before he had even arrived, she had already made up her mind and completed the application process.

Being completely unaffected seemed to be taken more seriously than being one hundred percent brainwashed.

Fu Qian mused silently.

Furthermore, given his previous experience, he was confident that his conversation with Cynthia was currently under surveillance.

In other words, whatever reaction he had next would be seen by every true or false Goya Ulrich.

”Beneath this is a mirror.”

Cynthia gestured for the guards to step aside. Her hand rested on the Guide of the Soul as she once again explained its function.

”Your case is quite rare, so we hope to use this method to confirm that you truly harbor no hidden risks.”

”Seeing how confident you are, I believe this shouldn’t cause you any trouble?”

While speaking, Cynthia studied Fu Qian’s reaction intently.

”So you’re trying to tell me that my belief in having no other issues is just my own delusion?”

Fu Qian put on a look that said, ’Don’t try to fool me.’

”That something has unconsciously influenced me, and I’m entirely unaware of it, requiring this method to bring it to light?”

”Why does this sound more and more absurd the more I listen?”

”It’s simply a method of screening.”

Cynthia didn’t seem surprised by his reaction.

”And there’s one thing you might have misunderstood.”

The next moment, her expression turned icy.

”You don’t have the right to choose. This is merely a notification.”

”Understood.”

Faced with the tester’s ruthless declaration, Fu Qian accepted it quite quickly, nodding to show his understanding.

”However, I don’t harbor any doubts about my own condition.”

”So I hope you’ll stick to the agreement and cover this thing before the five minutes are up.”

”Rest assured.”

Cynthia’s expression softened again.

”I am even less willing to allow such a mistake to happen than you are.”

...

Soon, the black cloth over the Guide of the Soul was lifted. The Silver-Surfaced Mirror and its familiar water mist appeared before Fu Qian once again.

Just like last time, the mist churned for a moment before settling into stillness.

In Fu Qian’s understanding, this scene had to do with his Rank. As a Demigod Realm existence, he exceeded the mirror’s sphere of influence, rendering it completely ineffective against him.

Faced with this situation last time, he had chosen to feign a self-diagnosis.

As for this time—

”It’s just looking in a mirror.”

Staring straight ahead, Fu Qian snorted.

”Hello there, me.”